Journal of Vaccines & Vaccination

Drinking water and sanitation status in Ethiopia: A literature survey

3^rd International Conference on Vaccines & Vaccination

July 29-31, 2013 Embassy Suites Las Vegas, NV, USA

Samuel Teshome

Accepted Abstracts: J Vaccines Vaccin

Abstract:

T he world Health Organization estimates that up to 80% of all diseases in the world are caused by inadequate sanitation, polluted water or unavailability of water. In Ethiopia over 60% of the communicable diseases are due to poor environmental health conditions arising from unsafe and inadequate water supply and poor hygienic and sanitary practices. Literature review was conducted with focus on coverage and trends in safe water supply and sanitation status in Ethiopia. Pub med and WHO publications search using key words: safe water supply, Sanitation, and Ethiopia was done. National library catalogues and ministry of health reports on safe water supply, and Sanitation were reviewed. As of 2010, rural population access to drinking water is 61.5% and for urban population it is 88.6% with urban to rural discrepancy of 27.1%. The overall national access to safe drinking water for the same time period is 66.2%. The WHO/UNICEF joint monitoring program (JMP) data however, indicate the national coverage to be only 36% for same period. The review indicated that Pit latrine use increased to 64% in 2011from 12% in 1996 while open field use decreased to 34% from 84%. Current trends show improved coverage of both safe water supply and sanitation. This is attributable to the health extension program which is an innovative approach that links community health workers and individual families for safe water use and improved sanitary practices.

Biography :

Samuel Teshome earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia in 1989. He did his post graduate training in Pediatrics and Child Health at Addis Ababa University and Epidemiology at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Currently he is working with the International Vaccine Institute with a capacity of associate research scientist and provides support on cholera vaccine clinical trials and pilot demonstration projects. He worked previously with World Health Organization on polio eradication program and other vaccine preventable disease in Ethiopia and Sierra Leone